Extension foot for ladders



June 25, 1929. M. 1 BATT EXTENSION FOOT FOR LDDERSl Filed June 30. 1927 Patented June 25, 1929.

Unirse sri-vree masa earenr OFFICE.

MYRTLE LORRANE BRA'I'T, OF CNCNNATI, OHIO.

EXTENSION FOOT FOR LADDES.

Application filed June 30,

This invention relates to auxiliary eX- tensible-devices for use at the lower-ends ot step-ladders, lire-ladders and other types ot service-ladders used on, loors or other toun- (lation or resting surfaces that are in any wisc uneven. and subject the ladder to wabble or to unduly lean to one side to the discomfort and bodily risk of the user as well as toppling' over with its load, and thus liable to result in greater or less damage to its load and to surrounding adjacent objects.

The object of my present improvement is to provide a very simple and economical form ot eompensating-device which is composed oil? a strip or lengt-h of channel-iron that is adapted to be readily telescoped into actingplace on one 01"' the lower ends ot the ladder to take up or lill in the space between the said lower end and the uneven footing below and thereby prevent wabbling or toppling ot the ladder on account oi' such unevenness, the said channel-iron being,` itself provided with a pivotal casteil:l clamp that is eccentricallymounted in a pair ot lateral ears that project from the opposite Haring side-walls of said channel-iron between its opposite ends and thereby adapted to take firm grip-hold on the lower end of the ladder that is to be rectilied in height above the said uneven footing, all ot which will be clearly and fully described in connection with the accompanying sheet of drawings, in which- Figure l is a front-face perspective view of my channel-iron and eccentric-clamp structure embedying` the invention herein, the said eccenti`ccla1np being shown thrown downward into disengagingposition and omitting the ladder, but otherwise ready :tor teleseopitz-attachment or in. using-place at the toot of the ladder-member needing the conn pensating-extension for any uneven footing below; Fig. 2, a cross-section taken on the horizontal dotted-line 2, 2, of Fig. l; Fig. 3, a fragmentary perspective view showing,l the lore-stiles at the lower end of an ordinary step-ladder in use on an oilset surface, such as a step, and with one oli my improved compensating extensioirdevices in clampedplace at the bottom oli the lett lfore leg or stile so as to meet the difference in the twolevels or unevenness of the footing for the ladder on which it rests tor use; Fig. 4, a fragmentary side-elevation of the lower end of the said lett-hand stile seen in Fig. 3, but on a somewhat larger scale, and showing` an en- 1927. Serial No. 202,690.

compassingg; elastic pad or cup on the channel-iron member to cushion the lower end thereoiiagainst slipping and injury to the resting-surface below; and Fig'. 5, a central vertical section of Fig. fl, looking toward the .inner face ot the channel-iron but onlitting;n the lower end of the said side-stile.

- ln applyingmy device, the lower supporte ling-ends ot the pair olf tore-stilcs A and l5 of an ordinary household step-ladder are shown, including the usual lower step C and its under crossbrace D. The said Stiles, A and ll, are et equal length, (as oi. course and customary,) and the said step-ladder hasI the usual back-prop member (not shown) containing' a pair ot legs whose lower ends are subject to resting on uneven surfaces and adapted to be supplied or armed with the same auxiliary compensating extension-device as the one seen in Fig. 3 (for either of said tore-Stiles A and B that requires its eX tensible or take-up support.

My said auxiliary, compensatingextensiondevice consists of a vertical, main or bodyportion 6 which is of channel-iron that has a flat back 7 and a pair of inwardly sloping or flaring side members or jaws 8, 8, duly spaced apart and provided near their upper ends with outwardly-extended or lateral ears 9, 9, to accommodate a pivotal loclingsclamp l0, all as best seen in Fig. l. The said locking-clamp l() is composed of a cam-block or liiody-portion 1l that has a transversely toothed or corrugated convex or halt-round liront-tace 12 and a working` handle or lever 1? and is pivotallymiountcd ou a. transverse bolt or pin lll that bears in the said ears 9, 9, on the side jaws ot the channel-'iron 6. The bolt 1d passes through a hole in the cam-block 1l eccentric to its convex or rounded lirontllace l2 so that in operating the clamp in contact with the face of the lower end of one of the side-stiles, or of one of the back prop-legs, its toothed or corrugated tace 12 impinges or impresses itself lirmly into the surface ol the stile or prop-leg, as the case may be, in the leveling; or evening;r ot the ladder, prooi' against slipping` or teetering` up and down. while the said lad der is in use, and especially with a weight or burden of any hind upon it. ln Fig. 3, l show how the device may be used on the lower end of the lett-hand stile A ot a stepladder which is in use on a stairway or in a position where there is two decidedly uneven surfaces or levels F and Gr. In this CID particular instanee it will be observed that the lower end or-foot of the channel-'iron eX- tension rests in contact with the lower level 1F after the compensating device herein `has sible on account of said decided difference in levels of the restingpoints of the two stiles of the ladder, the same condition being possible and carried out atthe lower ends of the rear-prop (not shown), where it'rests on the sanle'difering pair of levels also.

The'device herein forms a ready cast-off for both adjusting/'to and from clamping-place on the ladderfstilesor on the back-props7 and is easily mounted in swingingposition intermediate vthe side ears or bearings 9, 9, by means of the cross-boltor headed pin 14, which is preferably provided with a Cotterpin 15'orfhqlding it in place.

`,Thebottom of 'the channel-iron is vpreferably provided with an elastic cupor pad 16 that iis lspirunginto clinging-,place for ready removal, if necessary, and serves to prevent slippingor shifting of the ladder in use on the restingsurface,'or injuryto such restingsurfaee should it be a carpeted or an uncovered costly-inished floor of a building.

It will be easily understood that the device is equally well adapted for use on fire and other service -ladders to take the place of the crude makeshift blocks and wedges that have been hurriedly improvised in emergencies on uneven surfaces in streets and on pavements or ioorswhere such service ladders are hastily used or called into use for fires and other dangerous as Well as other important needed working service requiring properly sustained upright ladders, or like mounting or climbing apparatus.

A detachable conipensating extension foot for an ordinary plane-faced ladder leg, the same con'iprising an imperforate channel-iron having spaced inwardly-flaring opposite side jaws,'a pair of bearing-lugs projecting from the inner edges of the said side jaws` a clampinghmember, a'transverse bolt pivotally carrying said clamping-member in the said beuring-lugs and having an eccentric serrated cam-face 'formation for positive and slipless impingement-eontact with end of a. ladder leg when the device is in operative position. and a hand-lever projecting outwardly from the clamping-member.

In 'testimony whereof I hereunto aix my signature.

MYRTLE LORRAINE BRATT. 

